Antique Jewelry, Mourning Ring with Plaited Hair and inscription "Dadds Aug 28 02"

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

Back to Sentimental & Mourning Jewelry

	Mourning jewelry was popular by the 17th century used to memorialize the death of loved ones. Queen Victoria began her reign as a romantic, passionate young woman who loved jewelry and promoted the wearing of it by commissioning jewelers to design and make her pieces based on the latest fashions. In 1861, the forty-two year old queen was devastated by the death of her mother and then her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Queen Victoria remained in mourning for the rest of her life but found an outlet for her pain by commissioning mourning jewelry in memory of her late husband. The rest of the world followed suit by seeking out and commissioning mourning jewelry to memorialize their lost loved ones. This lovely ring is of mid-19th century styling, although the inscription of "Dadds Aug 28 02" makes it appear to be early 20th century. I am not a jewelry expert and have no access to references that might identify the hallmarks although I have done my best to photograph them and they say "WHR" then a symbol I cannot interpret, then "9", then "375" then a cursive "B". I believe the ring to be gold although I have no way to test it. Someone has suggested that the "9" indicates that it is 9 karat gold. The ring has a lovely plaited hair compartment in the front that is covered with the original glass lens. The gold of the ring itself is worked with the raised letters for "IN MEMORIAM." Behind the "IN MEMORIAM" inscription is black enamel paint that has light wear. There is a seed pearl on one side of the hair compartment but the other is missing but it is so small that you have to get a loupe to see either the pearl or that the other is missing. The ring measures to a size 6 1/2 U.S. I believe that the ring may have been made in the mid-19th century and then inscribed later. I don't know whether it is English or American made (it has been suggested that the ring is English...but I'm still interested if anyone has any information about the hallmarks) but because of the order of month before day, I believe it was in America when inscribed in 1902. It is a lovely wearable antique ring. (#3185) $225